The Commonwealth Financing Authority has approved $11.8 – million in funding for a project to provide flood protection. The word coming from State Senator John Gordner of Berwick and State Representative David Mallard of Millville. The money is earmarked for flood protection around Autoneum and Windsor Foods in west Bloomsburg. Both companies are the keys to an estimated 1,000 thousand jobs. Gordner and Millard started talking with the C-F-A when the US Army Corps of engineers decided not to to proceed with flood protection around the entire west side of town.

Kidsburg 2.0

Remember Kidsburg at Bloomsburg Town Park... built in the early 90's as the go to place for kids and their parents. It was destroyed by the floods of 2011... and now there is a group... getting a groundswell of support for the construction of... what is known... as Kidsburg 2.0.... so says organizers Deb Huckans of Bloomsburg. Ms. Huckens puts the project cost... at in her words... “several hundred thousands of dollars” with fund raising just now getting off the ground.

Dryer Fire

Bloomsburg firemen made short work of a gas dryer fire in the 600 block of West Main Street... near Barton around 8 O'clock last night. The dryer was on the second floor. Chief Bob Rupp was one of the first on the scene telling WHLM News there was a lot of heavy smoke. Firemen charged a 2 – and – a - half inch line as a precaution... but the blaze was doused with a water fire extinguisher. Damage was minimal.

Geisinger Visits Halted for Children

Geisinger Medical Center has issued temporary restrictions prohibiting children under the age of 5 from visiting children's and women's impatient units. The reason... a seasonal increase in pediatric Respiratory Virus cases. Geisinger's Dr. Michael Ryan... young patients have vulnerable immune systems that may not be able to fight of the potentially dangerous virus. Age related visitation restrictions serve as a protective measure to eliminate the threat of exposure.

Hazleton Property Taxes

It appears Hazleton City property owners will be paying a higher tax rate than first expected. During the taping of a television show Thursday... Hazleton Mayor Joseph Yannuzzi says the proposed tax rate will be higher than the 60% increase first proposed. Later in the day.... a memo was issued to council members by acting director of administration... Steve Hahn... saying the increase will be in the neighborhood of 75% after discovering two revenue sources drying up... worth $700,000. Hazleton City Council must have a budget in place by the end of the year.

Hazleton Dispute

Hazleton police on their way to a domestic argument at the Pine Street Playground... ended up at a near – by apartment building... eventually seizing a shotgun. Police say two women and a man were involved at the fracas at 49 North Pine. A search of the apartment produced the shotgun... with no one claiming ownership. No one was charged in the midday incident.

Freeland CVS Robbery

A man is in the Luzerne County Jail after he allegedly robbed the CVS on Centre Street in Freeland Wednesday. Police say Angel Molina – Rivera strolled into the drug store... handed the clerk a note demanding cash... got some money and took off. Police say Molina – Rivera is also wanted in Ohio on drug charges.

Northumberland Fire

A Northumberland County man has lost his second house to fire in two years. Firemen were called to Duke Street in Northumberland on Thursday... when flames broke out in the home of Bob Whary. The home was extensively damage and believed to have been accidental. Two years ago... the place where he lived in Sunbury burned down when an extension cord overheated.

Gas Pipeline

Although no time table has been set... a natural gas line project will have an effect on Montour County. The 30 – inch diameter pipeline project will start in Sullivan county... cross through Valley Township … make it's way to the Susquehanna River.... then be extended to the Philadelphia suburbs. Commonwealth Pipeline... will do the installation work... burying the pipe at lease ten feet underground. No word on when the project will start.

WHLM Sports

BU Basketball

The Bloomsburg University men's basketball team played at Penn State-Hazleton last night. Bloomsburg coming away with a 79 – 78 victory.

High School Football

Three area high school football teams have playoff games this weekend. Friday night Southern Columbia beat South Williamsport at Tiger Stadium in the District 4 Class A final 47-12. Danville won at home against Athens in a District 4 Class AA semifinal 14-13. You can hear all the details from Friday's action in the WHLM Friday Night Football Update:

Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock, Berwick plays Abington Heights in the District 2 Class AAA final at Crispin Field. Coverage on Classic Rock 103.5 begins at noon with The Coach Curry Show.

BU Football

The Bloomsburg University football team is in the post season for the 9th time in school history. Saturday at noon the Huskies play at Shippensburg in an NCAA Division 2 first round game. Coverage on the WHLM Stations begins with The Husky Countdown Show at 11:30.

NFL / Thursday

In the NFL Thursday night... the Buffalo Bills getting by the Miami Dolphins 19 to 14.